Many of you will know what I’m talking about here, many won’t. Enough people are trying to cash their own blogs in on this story by writing up stories about it. Here’s my quick thoughts without the keywords.
The response by the media—and by many other nasty Americans—to the rescue of a family of four in the Pacific (people we are happy to call our friends), plays a large part in why we choose to live our lives the way that we do. Their sensationalism and vitriol is why we take pains to dissociate our children from media, and to lead them on a different path than that which the vast majority feels is the “right” way to lead a life or to raise a child.
We hope that someday, probably many years from now, our friends are able to sit back and laugh about the sheer craziness/stupidity/absurdness of what is happening to them and being said about them right at this moment by unknowing/uneducated/uncaring nitwits.
We were in Natchez, Mississippi, today and decided to tour one of the antebellum mansions. We won’t make that mistake again. I realize more and more that I don’t give a toss about people’s riches or fame. The guy that owned this particular house was mega-rich, and the best thing he could think to do with those riches was buy expensive home furnishings. He died eight months after moving in. I had to stifle a laugh. A hundred-fifty years later and it seems nothing has changed.
Man, I’m in some mood today.
Hey, the Pig Out Inn had a really nice pulled pork sandwich.
There, that was a positive sentiment. I think I’ll leave it at that.
125 Comments on “A Bit of Nastiness”
Amen.
Pig Out Inn sure is a great place isn’t it?
Nicely put. 🙂
Well said!
High five!
Priceless!
Yes, most Americans would prefer that we all live in a sterile bubble in our living room eating McDonald’s and watching American Idol. Then, they jump in their minivan and race down the highway at 70 mph without a worry in the world. I won’t tell you how many city slickers worry about me and my family when we are in remote areas. I feel much safer in the wilderness than I do walking the streets of New York or Chicago! It’s all about perceived risk. Most Americans are clueless. Keep on doing what you do. And kudos to Rebel Heart for doing what they do. I hope they get right back on board and keep sailing on.
Or buy an RV and drive to South America, or build an Ashram or buy a Yurt in Yellow Knife or whatever it is they need or want to do.
Tread lightly with generalizations. Most Americans are not clueless. Most Americans, most people, I believe, love their kids and try to raise their families the best they can. For some people, cities are the option. For others, suburban or rural areas work. Some families thrive circumnavigating, and others cruise the roads in a vintage bus. There is no right or wrong path as long as the focus is on providing a loving environment for the family. The danger is in not respecting the choices others make and assuming the only valid decisions are yours.
I agree that most people look out for their kids. My point was perceived risk. Most people don’t think of the minivan as the most dangerous place for a child. They worry about things like sharks or bird flu. They don’t worry about the real risks in life. Part of this is due to media bias. We don’t hear about the 34,000 traffic fatalities that occurred in the U.S. last year. Rather, we’ll hear all about the 3 shark attack fatalities that occurred. Or the 23 lightning strike fatalities. I’m sure if you asked most American parents, they would be more worried about sharks than the minivan.
Monica….SPOT ON! Thank you thank you thank you for such a wise response. I needed that reminder that no one likes to be judged about one’s choices. To criticize those that don’t agree with our decisions only perpetuates the cycle. Obviously, since I read Bumfuzzle’s blog along with a few other sailing websites I value the adventurous nature those writers share but I am comfortable with a certain lifestyle that could create anxiety in others. If we could all follow our own path to self-fulfillment and happiness and respect those choices for others, we create a stronger community that values diversity.
Truer words haven’t been spoken (about the vitriol/nastiness, mega-wealth, and pulled pork).
As above ^
So true, so very very true!
Most American children are in more danger on buses than sailboats. Proud of the Navy though.
How dare you live your life the right way when there are so many of us who chose to live like everybody else! I applaud your choice of lifestyle and know that Ouest and Lowe will be the better for it.
Read the Yahoo news article comments about the family of four; turned my stomach some of the comments that were made, and far, far too few of them were positive. I wish them well.
Please, never question that you are doing right by your kids – they never will when they are surrounded by a bunch of peers that grew up in front of a glowing monitor, fearing everything.
Most wouldn’t understand it if it was explained to them. AS for the rest…. carry on
Pat
Glad the bus is working well
don’t forget about all those small towns with a city park,,alot of them have RV sites (they don’t advertise) , usually quiet, usually cheaper, a lot of them with small town grandparents hanging around
and don’t forget about the army corps of engineering campgrounds , they are harder to find ,but there are quite a few a them
(they also tend to have a lot of go to bed early, homemade cookies grandmas and grandpas)
Rich
I wish there were a way to convey my respect, support, and good wishes to the Kaufmans.
Lisa, There is. A fund has been setup here: https://fundrazr.com/campaigns/djWq3
Thank you!
Well, you know exactly how I feel, because I’ve been commenting on your adventures for years. Every young family, and old too actually, should at least try to spend some of their life living it more footloose and fancy free, like yours and the Kaufmans. It doesn’t have to be forever, and it doesn’t have to be on a sailboat or in a classic RV. If you can’t get out on the high seas or on the back roads of the world, you can do it a day at a time by getting outside and experiencing something new and adventurous every day. Imagine what a better world this would be if all children could grow up believing that life was all about meeting new and different people, experiencing nature, and new cultures. Imagine what a better world it would be if children’s lives were lived without television, cell phones, the internet. Imagine growing up believing that just around the corner another great adventure awaits. Again I say, keep on keeping on. You’re absolutely doing the right thing.
I thought you were joking when you called it “the pig out inn”. God bless the south! Couldn’t agree with you more Pat. We can’t wait to raise our kids the “wrong” way too.
The Davis Family
If you ever find yourself in Northern New Mexico give me a shout.. you would love it. We are in Chimayo, NM about 45 min from Santa Fe. Plenty of space and beauty
It’s funny you should say that actually, Australians
and Americans are much the same… They both have a very
narrow-minded quick-perceived view of the world, it’s like
they all live in a bubble, but they sure as hell love going on
vacations to remote foreign third-world, second-world places like
in Australia everybody goes to bali and Indonesia, my family spent some time in jakarta recently, as my sister works as an engineer there, and they where blessed to experience life beyond the westernized holiday islands of bali, and actually mingle in with the locals in what is the real Indonesia. I Know you Americans mostly go to Mexico and the Caribbean that’s your bali holiday island. Meh, sorry anyway, that’s just my two cents from a guy who reads your blog(one of many).
Cheers.
Trent.
genuinely blessed to
Well said, and, sorry if it was I who you found out from. I have been following their blog(s) as well, ever since you introduced me to them here. I have been in shock at the utter vitriol and stupidity being spewed as well.
I don’t know what else to say, but, WOW.
Peace.
And they lost their boat. National guard required to scuttle the boat. Damn
Actually, Rick, it was the four PJs (pararescue jumpers) from the 129th Air Rescue Wing of the California Air National Guard who flew for many hours, jumped into the Pacific 900 miles from shore, boarded Rebel Heart and saved Lyra’s life. It was the Navy that ordered the vessel to be scuttled as a “hazard to navigation.” But it’s also the Navy that has taken the family aboard and is returning them safely to San Diego, so let’s call it even.
But, yeah, Rebel Heart is gone forever. Let’s hope the Kaufmans’ willingness to dream big and creatively give their dreams wings is a survivor of this tragedy.
TJ
I was surprised at how harsh the comments were from two of the main morning programs when they were reporting the rescue.
Thanks Pat! These people need all the support they can get.
we took our kids on a plantation tour and IIRC the plantation was owned/operated by a park service. we found it FASCINATING – it was a guided tour by a park ranger. i’m almost positve it was in Nachez (sp?) and that might be more MS than LA. At any rate, i’ve only read about Rebel heart on the cruising forum and now i’m glad i’ve missed most of the nasty. such a shame…
So I tried to post some wisdom on *their* website to cheer them up, but it did not go through. As I’m not erudite enough to write it myself, here’s the link to someone who is:
http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/technology/micwright/100007520/comments-are-the-radioactive-waste-of-the-web/
Oh, yea, love the Travco, and looking forward to *our* next stop!
Comment threads can both be uplifting and the armpit of the universe.
For example, some of the best and absolute worst content available online lives on reddit. A recent highlight was the AMA (ask me anything) session with John Carter Cash, Jonny Carter’s son, which was one of the most uplifting conversation’s that I’ve ever read online.
The comments on the Kaufman story are firmly at the other end of the spectrum. It’s sad, depressing and maddening.
Argh – conversations, not conversation’s. I blame a certain three year old climbing over me whilst I was typing.
The comments last week about Rebel Heart were absolutely disgusting and written by people are afraid of everything and require others to be fearful too. I hope the Kaufmans can put this behind them and sail on to give their little girls the life they planned.
I’m in the “advanced grandma” age group and I’ve followed you and Ali since it was just the two of you leaving the Bahamas on the first Bumfuzzle. Thank you so much for sharing through your blog and books. Your gorgeous kids have a wonderful life and will be smart, strong, independent and resourceful because of their exposure to the world.
Best wishes, Lynne
America, in both public and private spheres, it’s more and more all about demanding punishment for any manner of perceived ‘irresponsibility’.
I LOVE you guys. Seriously. LOVE.
Having driven (way) out of my way to see the Cadillac Ranch while doing an epic road-trip, I took one look at myself and thought “WTF am I doing!?”. Was a real moment of realisation.
“Make crap and they will come…”
I thing this is the first time I have seen a real good view of the new interior of the “Old Road Bumfuzzle”, all I can say is your friend in MN did a really really nice job.
Thanks for the ride Pat and Ali.
Beautifully put Pat, I couldnt agree more.
Amen is right. But this isn’t just an American problem. Its a people problem. People can suck. That’s all there is to it. I read their FB page aloud to my husband and of all the negativity (OMG was it intense) I only found one comment that was constructive and it had to do with technical sailing aspects and had nothing to do with the baby or criticizing the parents on their responsibility. The rest was sheer hate mongering and makes me want to take my family and get the hell out of civilization. Do you have room on the bus for 6 more? ;*)
Well said, Pat. We don’t know the Kaufman’s except from Eric’s posts, but our hearts go out to them for the loss of their home and the invasion of the idiots.
On the subject of food, Calvin Trillin published a collection of essays back in the 1970’s about places he found to eat across the country — diners, BBQ, not fancy restaurants. Most of them are gone. What better book from the Bums than travels across the Americas enjoying places like the Pig Out Inn?
Here are two links to a couple of really good articles on the subject at hand. As travelers and adventure seekers, we can usually avoid meeting or dealing with these chicken little, armchair quarterback types. Most of these people live their life focused on the bubble wrap approach and are raising children that will barely be able to adapt to a different color iPod at Christmas! These parents did nothing wrong. Life happened and they dealt with it and they, including the kids, will be stronger for it. Period.
http://www.freemansperspective.com/why-you-should-run-away/
http://www.freemansperspective.com/children-adventure-danger/
What the Bums said. Life is risk…and depending on your birth privilege even the basics like drinking water can carry risk. Just mitigate the risk around us the best we can, and live life to the fullest.
I wondered if you would comment on the events being played out in the media. Your blog is being passed around on many message boards and comment sections – sometimes in a good way (look at what this cool family does) and sometimes not so much (look at what these idiots are doing).
I can tell you that our lifestyles are so completely different it isn’t even funny. I’m probably one of those that you might snicker at and wonder why on earth anyone would want to live like us. I love reading your blog and think what you are doing is fabulous, but I would never want to live your way. Different strokes. I love the path you’ve taken and I love my path. Like you, I wouldn’t change a thing.
It does puzzle me why people on both ends can’t be more accepting no matter the lifestyle. If there is one thing I have learned over the past few days of reading comments about this incident, it is that so many take a black or white view. Many believe that their way is the only way. It is distressing that so many people think if you don’t grow up in a house with a white picket fence and go to public school that you are being neglected or living a horrible childhood. On the other hand, it saddens me that many living a “different” lifestyle think just the opposite – all those public school kids are wild, out of control delinquents who will grow up only knowing how to play video games. If anything, this case shows me how narrow minded people are in general. I guess that will never change.
Have fun in your RV ventures. I’ll be reading each update!
I enjoyed your book and I enjoy your blog. I follow several cruisers and I think the lifestyle is a great way for a kid to grow up.
Problem for me is just that I don’t care for the Rebel Heart couple’s blog. They just rub me the wrong way. That isn’t a condemnation of cruising, just don’t find them to be people I want to read about regularly, like some of the others. I understand that they are your friends, and I respect that. I’m just a reader who likes what I like, and find their writing to be annoying in tone. I am really glad that their child is ok. They should go back out and sail again if they want to. I’m not defending the horrible things being written about them, and I don’t know enough about sailing to weigh in on some of the technical criticisms. I can only offer the idea that if this incident had happened to another cruising family, there might not have been such a negative outpouring. Maybe I’m wrong. Anyway, I like reading about your family.
I think it’s unfair to categorize those who, like me, think the Kaufmans are terrible, irresponsible parents as people who are “afraid of everything.”
I’ll share one thing I am afraid of, though: being responsible for injury to, or death of, an innocent child, too young to even give consent.
Respectfully, I have a question. Based on their blog entries, it is obvious that Eric was the only experienced sailor on the Rebel Heart. His wife disclosed suicidal thoughts not long before departing on the trip. The baby girl had a serious illness not long before departing on the trip. My question is this: what was the plan in case Eric became disabled mid-Ocean? Or lost?
Respectfully, again, I’d like to know a few details about the plan. Charlotte was going to navigate and maintain the ship, feed and tend to the children, and keep her mental state “ready,” having just lost her husband?
It seems the plan was “push the panic button and bill the taxpayers for a rescue.” Interestingly, looking at the Cruisers’ Forum blog, one of the few entries I’ve seen criticizing that sort of opportunistic behavior came from Eric himself.
I’ve thought of another question, respectfully: should responsible cruisers carry insurance adequate to cover the full cost of such a rescue, if needed? I’m told it doesn’t happen often, so actuarially the cost should be negligible. Also, I’m not talking about “law of the sea,” under which, as I understand things, nearby vessels are obligated to help someone in distress. That sounds like an excellent policy to me. I’m talking about the extraordinary efforts of steering a navy ship hundreds of miles off course, adding airplanes, helicopters, paratroopers, and so on. Also, feel free to assume my question applies equally to mountain climbers and extreme campers. I don’t mean to pick on cruisers — I actually enjoy sailing quite a bit.
You probably perceive things differently, but my impression is that the cruising community is not obtaining favorable publicity from their response to this episode. So insulting me, telling me I have no life, and so on won’t help. Do so if you must, but I’d really appreciate thoughtful and detailed answers to my questions, repeating:
1) what was the detailed plan for carrying on the Rebel Heart’s voyage in the event of Eric becoming incapacitated?
and
2) should cruisers carry insurance to cover the potentially millions of dollars spent on their rescue?
Ok, can some one fill me in a bit..I get the kid got sick and had to be rescued but why did both parents have to leave the boat? Why couldn’t the Dad stay and finish the trip to the MAr’s and then fly? home to help with the kids,,etc. Seems a shame to have to scuttle the boat, was it damaged?? I don’t watch CNN so missed the story..
You want everyone to accept your lifestyle and butt-out that some people choose to sail the world with their children, yet you are critical of a guy who wanted to live his life in a big mansion.
The Travco looks as safe, warm, and cozy a ship as the Spindrift, and that has everything to do with the captain and crew.
As for the misfortunes of others, “people” should just STFU.
I really don’t know the level of the Kaufman’s experience, whether 30 gallons of diesel is not enough (sailboats don’t typically carry much to start with), really not sure I would totally trust a doctor in Mexico or could this all been a situation of many unplanned things coming together? Truth is, the military was called to action and thankfully for this great country they answered that call, and lives were put at risk without waiver, all done with tax payers dollars and voluntary military personnel, for that I’m thankful.
I see many kids in New York City that do not have that level of loving parents, for a good many none at all. And for many families they need to toil in a job not as pleasing as say driving the back roads living on the margin to provide food and shelter to their children. Tolerance goes both ways, cruisers who think they are special only because of the luxury of a great start provided by their very ordinary parents (college etc), so the moral of the story, lets not judge, whether it’s a wealthy guys mansion or a bum that lives on the street.
Words… The thoughts, emotions, feelings and ideals that express the human experience.
They are primarly spoken or written from ones own perspective and naturaly so.
They tell far more than the obvious.
They reveal things about our inner character.
They can build.
They can destroy.
They can’t be taken back once released.
They can leave a scar or a smile long after they have been forgotten by their author.
I’m no different, I’ll pass along some Words as well, all though not my own.
Be kind and affectionate one to another with brotherly love.
Be happy with those who are happy and weep with those who weep.
Be not wise in your own conceit.
Be quick to care and slow to speak.
If it be possible, as much as the ability in you allows, live peaceably with everyone.
Love your Blog. Happy trails.
Bravo! Love the new land based aspect of the blog.
I don’t know how many people read your blog, so perhaps it’s soon. But three hours are passed, and it seems like commenting activity slowed down a bit after I made my post earlier. There’s no rush, really — the Kaufmans are safe, and the money spent on their rescue is gone.
Nevertheless, I would still really appreciate thoughtful answers to my two questions as posted above:
1) what was the detailed plan for carrying on the Rebel Heart’s voyage in the event of Eric becoming incapacitated?
and
2) should cruisers carry insurance to cover the potentially millions of dollars spent on their rescue?
In my first post I provide a bit of context for what these questions mean, so if anyone is kind enough to answer, please read that post first to gain a sense of where I am coming from.
Thank you.
Kaufman Critic,
Question to you:
Why would we know what the Kaufman’s plans were if Eric became incapacitated?
My answer to your second question:
No, cruisers should not be required to carry insurance in case of the need for a rescue.
Stacey, I reply to your first shrug below under Pam.
Regarding insurance, why not? As a corollary, why should we taxpayers indemnify you for identifiable risks you choose not to insure against?
If I have an auto breakdown and don’t have AAA, I pay for the tow truck. I could try calling the national guard and ask them to mobilize tanks and helicopters to come get me, but I doubt they would.
So why shouldn’t cruisers have this insurance? Reasons?
Because AAA and tow trucks can’t respond that far off shore.
Insurance is a general concept. It involves paying someone to share the potential costs of risks you take, as opposed to exposing everyone in society to those costs.
It is related to pulling your weight and being truly independent.
Do you have a car? With insurance? If so, why?
From whom are you expecting these answers? Pat and Ali are probably out playing with their kids or headed out on the road to their next adventure. Honestly, I can think of about a hundred things they might be doing on a lovely spring afternoon and sitting inside reading and responding to blog comments isn’t on the list.
Now, I think I’ll go outside, too.
“Be excellent to each other.” – Abe Lincoln
Pam and Stacey, I am expecting an answer to the first question from all of you — here, on the Kaufman’s blog, and on the cruising forum pages — who accept uncritically Eric’s assertion, AFTER the rescue, that “we were then and remain today confident that we prepared as well as any sailing crew could”.
I’ve read lots of Charlotte’s blog, and an honest look at those pages makes it clear she was far from expert in sailing, and far from expert in operating their boat. A few days into their failed circumnavigation attempt, she expresses surprise that Eric can calm the boat’s motion a bit by adjusting the sails!!!
Now it seems to me, and I’m no expert, that having a second competent sailor aboard would have been helpful. Or at least another person aboard who was competent to keep watch while Charlotte tended the children, or while Eric and Charlotte slept, apparently simultaneously.
If you grant that the voyage would have been safer with another experienced person aboard, as opposed to a single-handed voyage plus an anxious mother and two helpless, tiny children, you can’t agree with Eric’s claim that his crew “prepared as well as any sailing crew could”.
So those are the people I am asking. Those who explicitly or implicitly endorse Eric’s description of impeccable planning. If you feel that way, then you should have no problem telling me the backup plan ready in case of Eric’s incapacity.
I’d appreciate a thoughtful answer. I appreciate the answers so far, but they seem to be of the “who know, but I’m sure they had one” variety… not encouraging.
Just say it bitch! They are dumb asses. I am a junior college prof. and I can see it. I am also Filipino. WTF. Bobster?
If they were only dumbasses, no one would care. They are unfit parents who should be prevented from exposing their children any more suicidal adventures.
Hey Kevin… give me something to respond to. Your post is just jibber jabber!
And here I thought Bill & Ted coined the phrase “Be excellent to each other.”
Dear Kaufman Critic,
I quote:
“I’ll share one thing I am afraid of, though: being responsible for injury to, or death of, an innocent child, too young to even give consent”.
With all due respct, please tell us your detailed plan to avoid or mitigate the following situation, God forbid it should ever happen to you.
You have young children, perhaps your own children or grandchild, in your vehicle as you are traveling down a highway. Suddenly, you experience a massive heart attack or some other sudden death occurrence. I will leave to your imagination the possible results left in the wake of this situation.
In the face of intellectual honesty, you can not respond with; I would never have young children in my vehicle, or I don’t drive. It’s a scenario to be honestly answered. Whatever possible answer you can give to this situation, should give you your answer about the Kaufman situation
Ron, I specifically have no children, and can’t remember the last time any were in my car.
I can imagine the results of the scenario you describe, however. An ambulance would come, a tow truck would come, all terrestrial, all likely traveling under fifty miles, all ready on that day and at that time to do EXACTLY this sort of rescue. People would be taken to the hospital and treated. I have insurance, and my insurance company would be contacted and expected to pay at least some of the costs.
Regarding your last paragraph, I do drive, I don’t have or hang out with young children, but could easily see myself driving a friend’s kids someplace. And I could have a heart attack. Anything could happen. Since I don’t have a roll cage in my car, nor a defribillator, and the fire extinguisher is way in the back of the vehicle, I would never boast, like Eric did, POST-DISASTER, that “[I was] then and remain today confident that [I] prepared as well as any [automobile operator] could”.
Winding up, I could encounter problems while driving. So I have insurance. I am required to, but I happily pay for it, because the idea of saddling anyone, including US taxpayers collectively, with the cost of my mistakes… makes me sick.
So, should cruisers buy insurance for this sort of rescue? If not, why not? Auto drivers do.
Dear Kaufman Critic,
Please accept my apology for waisting your time.
Not at all. Still curious to hear your answer. Thank you.
Kaufman Critic — It seems as if you have arrived here already having formed your opinions. I am biting my tongue right now because I really shouldn’t be the one to draw attention to your diatribe but here are some thoughts on the two questions you have posed. 1) Since no one on this blog can speak for the Kaufman’s no one can tell you exactly what their emergency plans were. Just like you probably do not inform everyone in your outer circle of your every planned counter to any anticipated emergency or possible outcome every time you step foot on your sailboat or that I don’t inform my neighbor of what I will do if I get into a car accident on the way to work. We will have to wait on the Kaufman’s to answer that question although I still believe it is none of our business. Also on that note, Mr. Kaufman, if I am not mistaken, is a US Coast Guard Licensed Captain which means that he has undergone extensive training in how to prepare for voyages such as this one which includes making sure that all other passengers onboard are safe and know enough to survive in an emergency situation. 2) It is up to every individual to weigh their own risk vs. cost when it comes to insurance coverage. There are more people driving in uninsured vehicles than are traveling in uninsured boats and most of those drivers cause more property damage and loss of life than any sailor.
The last I heard our constitution stated that everyone has a right to pursue happiness. With that pursuit comes risk. It is how that risk is managed that determines the outcome. In the Kaufman’s case I truly believe that they managed their risk effectively and with purpose. They tried everything within their means to deal with the medical emergency on their own but as anyone in the medical field can tell you; medicine isn’t an exact science. They had medical clearance from a doctor to leave; they had medicines on board to treat any anticipated illnesses and once those had failed, as a last resort they had to call for medical rescue.
This is Pat and Ali’s blog about their trips over sea, land, sea again and now land again. Throughout the years, they too have dealt with the same questions that the Kaufman’s faced. Knowing this I am certain that most sailors/voyagers have felt a little overwhelmed at times but most of that is not spelled out on Pat & Ali’s blog as it is in other cruisers blogs that may read more like a diary.
As for the statement of taxpayer funding and allocation of resources, The United States Navy and Coast Guard are in existence to protect the lives of US citizens. These brave men and women were only doing what they were trained to do. If they had to rescue a cruise ship (which they would… in a heart beat) would you be nearly as critical? Taxpayer funds are already allocated to pay for missions such as this (Katrina, The landslide in Washington, the floods in Colorado, etc.). Even so, some of the cost for the rescue will still fall on the Kaufman’s; of this I am certain.
Let get back to admiring the way not everyone conforms to todays society and instead instills the sense of freedom into their children so that we as a country and as a world will continue to have dreamers and people not afraid to follow their dreams. That is what makes society move forward instead of being stagnant.
Kim, I understand why you’d like to not draw attention to my reasonable questions. They are apparently quite difficult for your community to answer.
You say that Eric Kaufman’s coast guard license tells you he made certain all “other passengers onboard are safe and know enough to survive in an emergency situation.”
So the one-year-old knew all that? I’ll ask you to reconsider this claim.
the case of a cruise ship, there would be redundant personnel capable of operating the boat. If a cruise ship captain took his vessel out alone with one nervous woman and two helpless children, I’d feel the same way (except the cruise ship would at least give the little one a place to learn to walk).
Regarding auto insurance, it sounds like you support the decisions of those who opt to drive uninsured, saddling society with the costs of their driving mishaps? Is that the case? If so, I congratulate you on that bit of ethical and logical consistency.
[return]In the case of the cruise ship…
I just don’t like you. I’d express that in long drawn out sentences. But let’s just leave it at that.
To below
II
V
That’s a shame, because I like you a lot. Not enough to be happy about paying for the messes you make through poor planning, but still plenty.
Not enough to keep stroking you when you’ve done something which clearly and obviously endangered helpless children, but still plenty.
I can like someone without forcing myself to say all sorts of foolish things to pretend they haven’t screwed up when they clearly have. I try to be an honest friend… the other type is useless… even dangerous, if they encourage me to do dangerous things I lack the skill to succeed in. <- hint.
I tried to not lower the discussion to personal insults as this is not the platform for a personal ethics debate. Your questions would have been more reasonable if the author could accept reason. You have formed you opinions and it is clear that those opinions will not be countered by anything anyone else has to offer. As for your response to me; the only response I have is to say you missed the entire point. By focusing in on the trees you have missed the forest.
I hope you continue your research and find your answers. Just please choose a different platform.
Oh… by the way, I am not a part of the cruising community; I just read and research on my own. And I have been a victim of the uninsured driver and know that it is not the taxpayer that has to foot the bill but the injured party. You should understand that insurance doesn’t cover everything and in fact if you are in fact a sailor as purported then you should know how little maritime insurance does cover; that is unless you do not carry insurance on your boat.
I’ll take that as “I can’t answer you about a one-year-old knowing safety procedures, and although I said insurance was each person’s choice, auto drivers without insurance are bad (while sailors without insurance are good). Also, I don’t understand how emergency rooms work, and thinking about definitions of words like “society” makes my brain hurt.”
Thanks, and keep on reading and researching. Both outstanding activities.
Forest for the trees.
Original statement: …”making sure that all other passengers onboard are safe and know enough to survive in an emergency situation.”
Revised Statement for the narrow minded:
All passengers are safe (including little ones) and all comprehending and upwardly mobile passengers know enough to survive in an emergency (although little ones know more than we sometimes give them credit)
I wouldn’t have thought that could have been misinterpreted by people such as yourself, but I was wrong.
No one has ever stated that not having boat insurance was “good” just that it was an individuals choice.
I have a reply! They pay taxes or not – they get to be rescued or not. As anyone does in this amazing US of A. We rescue people anywhere almost anytime. They flippin’ needed help after years and years. What is the difference than an tree falling on the house during an earthquake? You planted the tree. Not enough of your sheeple friends think this is right? Thousands of 911 calls are answered daily that use $$$. How ’bout a child-eating feline in Portland, OR.?” “Boat capsizes with illegals!” Disgusting! I guarantee the Navy/US Coastguard will not file one infraction. You know why? They were not negligent, careless or stupid. The Family was experienced and prepared.
The baby got sick she got meds and did not respond, they were prepared!
More so than you are going down the freeway at 70 or walking a trail with no GPS telling you what to do!
This lifestyle is not for everyone Thank God. You would frankly be in the way. Not enough manuals or people saying yes I agree, it’s OK, go here, no here.
It is not for you or me to get or agree to, and clearly you do not understand. You don’t have to.
Take a family to Nepal or Haiti for experience, education, exposure, charity….put them in football or on a roller coaster no problem.
Send your child in diapers to day care with Momma’s milk in a bottle…… No problem. No harm there.
Ever!
YOUR QUESTIONS ARE answered. It is none of your business how someone lives with their family.
The lifestyle beckons to each their own. Yes, they were prepared Yes the one in a million happened. I just hope folks are around you if it happens. My point is they paid, they made choices…..where is your compassion.
Go Nanny someone else.
The only preparation they had for the sick baby was to call the navy and request a warship be sent to bail them out. They also don’t seem to have been prepared for running low on fuel, running low on food, losing power, losing steering, and taking on water. Fact is, they failed miserably.
I know it upsets you to see the irresponsible, parasitical nature of your pastime being discussed. Why not do something about that? Why not advocate for all blue-water cruisers to have some sort of catastrophic rescue insurance? Wouldn’t it feel good to act responsibly?
I fear your answer to that question.
I get it now.
You’re an Insurance salesman.
That’s the only thing that explains your behavior. Please leave and stop giving others in your profession a bad name.
No. I’m a taxpayer and an advocate for keeping children alive. Perhaps those are categories whic don’t have much overlap in your community.
One of the main points of contention here seems to be cost of rescue. There would be little to no NET cost to treasury to perform this sort of mission.
The navy, air force and coast guard perform regular training drills every day for events exactly like this one. For example, pilots and aircraft are required to log flight time every month regardless of whether there is a real rescue operation or not. If there is a real rescue than the flight time is added to the monthly total thus reducing the training hours to be logged.
As such there is no additional cost to the tax payer as the exact same man hours, flight hours and fuel would be used regardless.
The same principal applied the to “warship”, it would have already been out performing regular training exercises. The same amount of resources would have been used by the vessel, we just wouldn’t be talking it.
This is precisely how they train for larger emergencies such as an open water commercial plain crash that the public would deem a “good” use of resources.
Well, on Cruisers’ Forum, on October 8, 2013, here’s what Eric Kaufman d/b/a Rebel Heart had to say about that:
Re: Couple Flees America, Gets Tax Payer Rides Home
“It’s like every week there’s someone getting rescued off a boat these days who has no idea wtf they are doing.”
I for one understand Eric’s frustration here.
http://www.cruisersforum.com/forums/f80/couple-flees-america-gets-tax-payer-rides-home-109129.html
I was merely pointing out that the discussion on the expense of the rescue is misguided. The point remains the same, rate payers do fund all ongoing military operations, but individual exercises do not necessarily apply an additional burden to the tax payer.
The fact that the individuals being transported without a levy has no impact on the funding enveloped provided to branch of the military involved.
The moneys would be expended in the same magnitude regardless if the mission is logged as a rescue or a training exercise.
The statute requires that these recourses to used regardless of the purpose in order to maintain the competence of the personal.
Go sell crazy some where else. You are either ignorant or stupid. Definitely Cray Cray!
I fear your thought processes. I shudder with deep pity. Go be mean and nasty else where.
So you applaud the thought processes of someone of questionable experience who decides to single-handedly sail a questionable boat around the world with insufficient fuel, bringing along three passengers: a suicidal wife, a three-year-old, and a sick one-year-old… but you fear the thought processes of someone who says “that was not a good plan.”
Remarkable what people will say.
Critics Galore: Your 2 previous posts are perfect and all those in between…. Excuse me… Can I get my questioned answered. Oh fiddle. Can I be heard. 3 hours went by. Now what? Oh poop! Can someone tell what to do? Oh I get to make my own choices? I live like the people I hate! Darn it. I drive 70 mph to take my kid to daycare with my milk in a bottle To A Stranger! Who are the Joneses? Someone called 911 for a cat? I get free healthcare! Oh dear me. Biff Buffy?
Classic.
Ignorance vs. Sheeple. Good on ya sailors good on ya.
Kip, I know it’s tough to be called on the freeloading, reckless, endangering, unsanitary, hypocritical behavior of your friends. Don’t worry, it will all pass soon, and you can go on living the life. If things go seriously wrong for you — I hope they never do — you can stick all the other poor suckers with the bill.
Because you are living the life.
Well, Kaufman Critic (what IS your real name by the way?), it is very apparent you are a judger. One who inferred in this last statement that cruisers are “freeloading, reckless, endangering, unsanitary” and “hypocritical”. Do really know what hypocritical means? Because if you do, then you must realize you are perhaps the most hypocritical person to comment here. If you read Rebel Heart, not just looking for critical points, you’d realize that the Mr. Kaufman is certified Coast Guard captain. You don’t get to be a CG captain by simply reading a book. It takes experience and hands on – lots of it. So let me the person here to infer from your comments the following:. You are a person who neither risks too much nor reaps great rewards. You are one of the people who live your simple, safe life. In short, you are watcher, reader and not a doer. Now I would suggest you go somewhere else where folks of the same like mind (there are BILLIONS of them) can glow in your simplicity.
Hi Dick. I’m John.
I call Eric Kaufman hypocritical because, given all the experience you would credit him with, he should have known that sometimes things go wrong, sometimes emergency rescues happen. Yet he found time to sarcastically complain on Cruisers’ Forum about people getting taxpayer-funded rescues. If this is inappropriate behavior, as Mr. Kaufman seems to have believed, he should have sank with his boat.
I don’t care what is specifically required to become a CG captain. I know Eric Kaufman brought a small boat out with insufficient fuel (per his own blog), a suicide-contemplating wife, a three-year-old, and a sick one-year-old… attempting to single-handedly sail around the world. I asked above what Kaufman’s backup plan was in the event of his incapacity. There was none.
Infer all you like, Dick. You don’t know me. I don’t have a blog about filthy diapers in my food sink, toilets overflowing with feces, keeping food away from my hungry children. There are no photos of me being rescued at millions of dollars’ expense, on a miserable inflatable boat, a forsaken child strapped to my back, being completely ignored by me.
Hey Dick….. stick to the Cruisers Forum. I know exactly who you are.
Over 10 years now with fly by ignorant hateful comments on forums. An actual hater.
The green with envy, lonely, BarcaLounger, stuck in a cubical, pasty white legs w/black sandals & white socks wearer, with no friends, no money, because you spew Hate and ooze regret on those around you. I pity you. You could not be more egotistical and oppositionaly defiant, a complete waste of time. You’re your worst enemy. Take out and read just your posts -it’s really really sad.
“Karma is only a bitch dear if you are”.
No one owes you anything, nada zip. Now go do something you’ll want to remember that makes you happy and those around you happier!
PS Please do not respond, I won’t be reading it. I will be making somebody’s day better, everyday.
@Kaufman Critic: To adapt an old saying, your questions aren’t wrong, but you’re just an asshole.
In fact, I had similar questions that I was keeping to myself until I could find a satisfactory answer. I’m happy to say that your polarized and loaded wording has helped me find good answers.
1) It does not matter how well prepared or able the RH crew was or wasn’t. Not you, nor anyone else, has any moral authority to stop the damnest fool from setting out on the high seas in the stupidest vessel possible. It is a human freedom to set out with whatever level of preparation one feels comfortable with. Now, the US Coast Guard (and respective authorities in other jurisdictions) do have the legal authority to enforce minimum competence and safety standards, for precaution and preventative reasons. I doubt that even you would argue that RH and her captain did not meet those competency and safety standards. After that, what you are doing is judging them (for your own perverse power trip), and see my point above to learn how much you are justified in doing so (hint: not at all). By the way, you cannot use the argumentation that we must “think of the children” because, and I repeat myself, you have no moral authority to tell another family what they can and can not do. There are laws against child abuse, but not against sailing with children, and your argument that these are anyhow similar is repugnant.
2) I am not in the insurance field, so I do not know the proper terms, but this is how I would put it: mid-ocean rescue is not insurable because there is no non-governmental entity that could be contracted to fulfill the policy. Only the US (and other countries’) military has the capability to do so reliably. And guess what their current and applicable policy is regarding the cost of a rescue operation? From what I’ve gathered, they do not charge the rescued party one cent, because that might discourage early calls for help, which leads to late and dangerous or impossible rescues. So because the US military does not charge, there is currently no need for insurance against such charges. Now, of course you are free to petition changes to such laws or policies, but that was not your question (though your intent was so transparent). However, even that is misguided because if you look inside the operation of these military units, you would see that they are constantly spending money on training activity or missions, thus there is very little overhead in actual rescue missions. In fact, a successful rescue is probably such a boost of morale to the unit, that the US military should pay the rescued party for setting up such a great “training” mission and team building exercise. Yes, that is absurd, and this is known as “reductio ad absurdum.” So like it or not, the US government is fully subsidizing ocean rescues, and I believe that is a good thing. Far better than subsidizing flood insurance on vacation homes in coastal areas, and the many other things that the US government subsidizes because of the money it funnels to industries with powerful lobbies.
I am sure you will not like my answers and will try to argue and debate them, but the way you engage in argumentation has convinced me you are and will remain wrong.
So I have my own question for you, since you have set the precedent of demanding answers to impertinent questions on public forums:
3) Why have you not paid a toll to drive on the roads around your house, neighborhood, city, and state, and why is that a good thing.
Please note that this question is only for Kaufman Critic, as I do not wish to impose more than is polite on this wonderful community.
Hi.
You are correct about my questions. They are perfectly reasonable. The thrashing around starts when you people try to imagine satisfactory, responsible answers to those questions. You fail. I phrased my questions carefully, disputatiously. Sure. But my being argumentative, or being an asshole, doesn’t change the validity of those questions.
As you say, there is polarization, all right:
There are people, like me, who see a captain of questionable experience taking a boat with insufficient fuel on a single-handed circumnavigation attempt with three passenger: a suicide-contemplating wife, a three-year-old, and a sick one-year-old… and say “that one-year-old should never have been brought on this particular trip!” People like me also look at Kaufman’s post-rescue statement praising his impeccable preparation and say “hold on, you wouldn’t have been better off with a second qualified boat operator, or at least someone who could keep watch while you two slept simultaneously? Or without bringing the baby and the predictable health/monitoring concerns made necessary by doing so?”
Then there are people like those who post here and say “sounds about right. There were zero mistakes. I’d do exactly the same trip with exactly the same crew and exactly the same amount of fuel myself. No problemo.”
Pretty polarized. Difference is, people on my side are able and happy to justify our thoughts. The other side calls names.
~~~~
Maybe there is a third category: people like you who have questions like mine, but think it is impolite to ask them. If you wonder now whether taking that sick baby on this particular trip was a good idea, surely you were capable of wondering the same thing before the doomed voyage began. Back when everyone on Cruisers’ Forum was telling Epic Eric how much he rocked and not to listen to the worriers.
Now might be a good time to point out that the ANG Commander who led the rescue of parent-cursed baby Lyra said they arrived “just in time.”
http://www.nbcsandiego.com/news/local/Parents-Kaufmans-San-Diego-Rescue-Sea-Baby-Sick-Crews-Guard-254533651.html
Now Eric is clearly a grade A idiot, a narcissist, likely a sociopath. So I think he would have made this attempt to kill his family no matter what anyone said. But now, after the fact, do you still think the community did his family a service by not challenging his plans more thoroughly ex ante?
~~~~
Regarding “authority,” there are agencies with full authority to take those children away from their reckless, psychologically-unstable, filthy parents. Although I like children plenty, I spend virtually no time on child’s-rights advocacy. In this case, however, I hope and pray those children are taken away and placed in protective custody, far from the Kaufman parents.
On the insurance question, perhaps I’m trolling a bit. But I am inspired by Eric Kaufman himself, who took to the pages of Cruisers’ Forum to berate the freeloaders who needed to be bailed out at taxpayers’ expense once in over their heads. Further, the cavalier attitude shown here about other people’s money made me wonder… how would these people react to the idea of obtaining insurance (which probably doesn’t exist now) which would cover, say, a few million dollars for rescue costs in international waters. Predictably, there is nothing but scorn from you people… how dare anyone suggest you consider doing a perfectly reasonable, societally-cooperative thing!
The nerve!
I agree with you about taxpayer indemnification of people who do other stupid things (I’m saying taking a sick one-year-old on a round-the-world trip with a suicidal mother and insufficient fuel was stupid… people here think it was brilliant), and about the industries who make the call for those monies to be spent as they are.
~~~~
Now your question. I don’t quite get it. I pay a toll on toll roads. I pay taxes in various ways which are used to maintain and clean roads (poorly, but that’s another story). Are you asking whether I’m a libertarian? Hell no. I’m not a fifteen-year-old boy. I understand I live within a society, I am aware of the “problem of the commons.” Ethically I suppose I could do things to position myself as more of a societal taker, out-smarting the system, but that’s pretty creepy, no? I like people, adventurers and library-habitués, who take responsibility for their actions and decisions. I know a few irresponsible types, but won’t count them among my friends. Surely we differ there!
~~~~
Anyway, back to where you started. My questions were just fine. I may be argumentative, I may be an asshole, but my questions were just fine. Problem is, you can’t defend Eric Kaufman, attempted family-killer, while answering those questions honestly.
FRUSTRATING!!!! : )
Hmmm, I thought we were beyond debating your “questions” now. I gave you answers that you did not and probably cannot refute. My answers are logical and correct. You are not using this space to argue, you are using it to spew your hate, which was likely your intention from the beginning. You are wrong, Kaufman Critic.
Have you ever considered how far your writings are from being “a perfectly reasonable, societally-cooperative thing”? Will you do something for me? Get up from the computer, walk around, go outside (even if it’s raining), find another human, hug them if it is someone you are close to. This internet thing is not some melding of pure digital logic creating an AI that will uncover the “one truth” in the world. The internet is made of real humans doing real things, and it’s every bit as difficult and nuanced as real life. Your ideas do not prevail in real life. If you cannot realize that and continue to spew, I hope the Bums delete this entire thread of the comments and ban your IP from their website.
An interesting side story is how people choose to share their adventures online. Moderating comments is difficult when offline for days/weeks at a time, but polite commenters provide a supportive community. I think all adventurers need online blog “managers” (probably friends back home) to weed out the trolls.
I fully expect my comments to be deleted, and have no ongoing interest in this website. Looking at Cruisers’ Forum, I had gotten a favorable impression of the blog hosts. I looked here and saw that they had an entry about all the nastiness. Not the nastiness of a nearly-dying child, but the nastiness of people raising questions like mine.
I do want to thank the hosts for letting me make the comments I have.
As for you, 205guy, maybe I’ll bump into you again someplace, arguing against your support for Caycee Anthony or Susan Smith.
I have no knowledge of the people you mention and I will not argue with anyone who puts words into my mouth. The only response of yours I will consider is one that completes the following sentence:
“I have the moral authority to tell other families how to live because…”
Boy oh boy Bums, you do stir the pot. Keep it up.
The bus is beautiful inside – roomy, clean, great comfortable furniture. I love that photo. You really did a good job!
Better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to speak out and remove all doubt.
Abraham Lincoln
Wow. Asking you people about behaving responsibly vis-a-vis the taxpayers you expect to bail you out goes over like a fart in church.
I’m sad that their daughter got sick, but they are the type of people to bounce back (once their daughter is better). Its just part of “What they Do” and how they live.
I am mostly sad as they were a huge inspiration to me and now I don’t have their blog to read. I will learn from there experience though. The number one thing I take away from this is “Don’t be in a hurry”. I think they were in a hurry to start their cruise on all levels. They could have waited a few more years(in the grand scheme), they could have waited a few more weeks (in the short term).
I just want to say… Both you (Pat and Ali) and them have invaluable to me while I worked (the last 10 years) to untangle my self from society and live that kind of life. I now have a solid date and will be “living the dream” in 2015.
Oh, I wouldn’t worry. Something gives me the sneaking suspicion that they will embrace the publicity and blog lots and lots about it. I’m sure you’ll still have their blog to read.
If we really want to be safe and not put our children in danger, we should avoid going out of doors at all. I mean, what about the dangerous car ride you inflict on your children everyday taking them to school…. not to mention putting them on a school bus!
And the talk of the expense to the tax-payers? How about the war we always seem to waging somewhere in the world, not to mention the moral wrong of all the killing that goes along with it.
Time to step off my podium.
Yep. Those wars waste a lot of money and credibility. No argument there.
You don’t really believe that anyone actually read all that crap you posted on here, do you? You’re wasting a lot of time here, why not move on?
Trust me, I’m not sticky here. I just wonder whether you folks can justify your support for Eric Kaufman’s decisions. You can’t. I’m right. That happens a lot when you think things through.
You are only right in your own mind because you refuse to see any alternate view points.
In another post you criticized the commenters about calling names yet you were the first one to do such. Examples: “freeloading, reckless, endangering, unsanitary, hypocritical”, “I know it upsets you to see the irresponsible, parasitical nature of your pastime being discussed.” In fact you started your entire dialog with the preface “So insulting me, telling me I have no life, and so on won’t help. Do so if you must, but I’d really appreciate thoughtful and detailed answers to my questions,” We tried. You failed.
As for your “research”. It is obvious that you chose to focus on only parts of text that were written without acknowledging the context in which that text was delivered. The Cruiser Forum post you keep referring to was in a response to an article about a family that was rescued. In that instance they (all occupants of the vessel) had ZERO training. None. NADA. ZILCH. Mr. Kaufman was correct in the tone of his post that situations such as those (where people decide willy-nilly to buy a boat and go offshore without learning what they might encounter along the way) are happening way too often. His comment, however, does not translate to his current situation. The only commonality was a boat and a rescue. That would be like comparing a Nascar Race to a traffic jam. They both involve roads and cars right?
You are happy to sit wherever you are and play arm chair analyst as to someone’s state of mind (“a suicidal wife” and “They are unfit parents who should be prevented from exposing their children any more suicidal adventures.”, “grade A idiot, a narcissist, likely a sociopath”) yet you refuse to allow us to do the same.
You choose to imply that you know best how to care for children (“done something which clearly and obviously endangered helpless children”) when you; per your own admission (“I don’t have or hang out with young children”), do not have any nor have ever cared for any, when many of us have children and know first hand what their needs are and how to care for them.
You want us to validate your assumption on how a boat should be outfitted and staffed for a voyage based on your statements of and “the voyage would have been safer with another experienced person aboard, as opposed to a single-handed voyage”, and “he should have known that sometimes things go wrong, sometimes emergency rescues happen.” and “thought processes of someone of questionable experience who decides to single-handedly sail a questionable boat”. Yet you make statements such as “and I’m no expert” and “It seems to me”. So do us a favor and actually listen to those who have prepared for voyages like this one, who have the training and know what it takes to create emergency plans and gather provisions for the voyage and who also know that no amount of planning can cover all outcomes. Stuff happens and although you have tried your hardest and done everything by the book it still can’t stop a Katrina or a landslide or floods or even that drunk driver from aiming at you and saying “it’s just your day to get pooped on”. We know about this. You obviously don’t have a clue.
You make it seem as if you have all the medical knowledge in the world by making statements such as “The only preparation they had for the sick baby was to call the navy and request a warship be sent to bail them out.” and yet do you even know what the child was suffering from when they were rescued, what antibiotics or other medications were administered before the Mayday call, What was her diagnosis, was it related to her previous illness of which her doctors had given her a clean bill of health? You don’t know, so quit arm chairing until you get all the facts.
I’ve said my peace and don’t expect it to sway you one way or the other just know that if you stop listening, you stop learning and when you stop learning you become stupid. Sorry you stopped listening so long ago. There is no vaccination/medication available for your illness. It’s terminal stupidity I’m afraid.
Should have stated “stop listening, comprehending and trying to see different prespectives”
The adjectives I used to insult (i.e., in this case, “describe”) the Kaufmans are all amply supported in their blog.
Tell me: is a 36′ boat with two skilled operators aboard better-equipped for a circumnavigation than a boat with only one? I know your answer… for some reason, Eric Kaufman’s judgment can never, ever, ever be questioned.
The taxpayer’s role in all this is to save the Kaufmans, transport the Kaufmans, feed the Kaufmans, and shelter the Kaufmans. Should a taxpayer read the Kaufman’s blog and be shocked by the freeloading, reckless, recklessness, endangerment, unsanitary conditions described there, then learn of the “captain’s” hypocritical nature (let’s insert parasitical there), well that taxpayer HAD BETTER STFU.
Have a happy circle-jerk.
Bumfuzzle, what ? 🙂
@ Kaufman Critic, bla bla bla bla bla bla
Reading Kaufman Critic’s comments makes me think he/she is an insurance agent or insurance broker. He/she certainly seems sold on purchasing insurance. Whereas the reality is that the rescuers participate in training exercises to sharpen their skills that cost taxpayers just as much as this real-life rescue did. Now I will return to my real life and will not be returning to this comment section to read Kaufman Critic’s inevitable response.
I have no connection to the insurance industry.
Is it really that hard to imagine a taxpayer frustrated by paying for unnecessary, predictable rescues of unprepared sailing crews?
Why, your friend Eric Kaufman is frustrated by this too. Here he is on Cruisers’ Forum:
~~~~
Re: Couple Flees America, Gets Tax Payer Rides Home
It’s like every week there’s someone getting rescued off a boat these days who has no idea wtf they are doing.
~~~~
http://www.cruisersforum.com/forums/f80/couple-flees-america-gets-tax-payer-rides-home-109129.html#post1307841
Kaufman Critic:
I have some replies for you, but I don’t want to post them here. Will you create a temporary email account or provide some other means of contact?
I guess New Orleans is next? Some great photo ops there!
The bus looks amazing! It’s been so fun to follow you guys on a different adventure!
Kaufman Critic- in case you haven’t noticed no one cares to have at it with you. I’m sure you’re a very important person in your own mind but to us your an annoying person on the internet that sort of equates to a buzzing mosquito. I hope you find all the answers to your questions that you feel so justified in bothering people with.
I would just add to Kaufman critic that Maersk got a lot more free rescue from the US military for their money.
I don’t know who took the picture of Ouest taking a picture of the horse but boy, did she nail hers!!!
Love the pictures with the horse. Almost as good as the one on your previous blog with Ouest and the heart balloons. Can’t you guys block obnoxious blog thieves? Just wishing. Are you going to name the bus “Bumfuzzle”? Lots of love and good wishes, Lauri and Dois, Ashika
Some of you people are absolutely pitiful……..
thanks for sharing your travels, Bums 🙂
It is certainly disappointing to see all the angst on both sides of the Rebel Heart incident. I guess it’s bound to come out whenever something like this happens.
I happened to be in La Cruz from late January to late March aboard our own boat. We were on gangway 10, a dozen or so slips from where Rebel Heart was tied up. I walked past that boat at least a hundred times as I went about my business there. I was never formally introduced to Eric Kaufman or his family, but I saw them quite often and they seemed like nice enough people. I also spent a career as a yacht designer and builder so I am always looking at boats with a critical eye. I never went aboard Rebel Heart, but it seemed like an average Hans Christian 36, a little rough in some ways, but apparently in reasonably good shape. It’s heavy and slow but should be a very seaworthy boat for its size. However, it is obvious that the boat was not as well prepared as it should have been regardless of what Kaufman says. So many well prepared boats do the “Puddle Jump” without catastrophe that they can’t be counted. Here is a link to the group of boats that Rebel Heart
sailed with ttp://www.pacificpuddlejump.com/fleet.html You’ll find Rebel Heart at about #162 in the roster, out of a total of 233 boats that entered the 2014 Puddle Jump. (What a crowd!) I am not aware of any other boats that sank, issued a mayday, pan pan or any other call for help. This is just to put a little perspective on the situation.
One other thing I suggest you consider is the Coast Guard Captains License. I don’t know which level of license Mr. Kaufman had, but I refer you to the Annapolis School of Seamanship, a well respected school for Coast Guard Licenses here: http://www.annapolisschoolofseamanship.com/captainslicense.html A “Six Pack” license is a 56 hour course, and you must certify that you’ve spent 360 hours operating a boat. That’s roughly equivalent to 8 weekends of sailing. Perhaps Mr. Kaufman had a 100 ton license. That credential requires eighty hours of training and a year of operational experience. I know lots of people who have earned these licenses and many of them are superb seamen. But many are not. And for the non-sailing reader, do not confuse a Coast Guard Captain’s License with being a Captain in the USCG. My point is that merely having the license does not make one a competent offshore sailor.
I don’t question the Kaufmans’ decision to take their toddlers on a Pacific crossing. I personally would never do such a thing for so many reasons that should be obvious to any reasonable parent. But that’s me, and I respect their right to take the kids with them. I know of many cruising families that have taken small and large children with them on all manner of offshore passages safely and had a lot of fun in the bargain. I can’t think of a better way for a kid to spend his/her young life than seeing the world from the deck of a cruising boat.
Reading Kaufman’s blog, I got the impression that he wasn’t entirely confident in his skills. At one point he noted that sailing Rebel Heart in 3 knots of wind was “some of the toughest sailing I’ve ever done”. Reading Mrs. Kaufman’s blog, it seemed to me that she was not well prepared for the passage and perhaps not all that thrilled about it. I could be wrong but that’s how it seemed to me.
Finally, consider Pat and Ali. They decided to circumnavigate and got busy and did it. And they didn’t sign up with over 200 other boats in a big group, they didn’t worry about getting a captains license, they just went…and using their wits and ingenuity kept their boat afloat and themselves safe without ever asking for help. Perhaps the Kaufmans should have read their book a bit more carefully.
One correction…Coast Guard requires 360 DAYS of experience …not hours. A day is defined as four hours on the water and you can only log on day per calendar day, even if you were on your boat for all 24 hours.
Just a tip…..if you stop arguing with a tosser he usually gets bored and goes away! Just had a stop in Galle, Sri Lanka – it hasn’t changed much from bumfuzzle experience, maybe worse. We would give it a miss and go straight to Maldives if we had a 2nd chance.
I am a bit late to the game on this, as I am just catching back up on the bums, but I find it very interesting that everyone seems to have an opinion on the way others live their lives. Whether or not you agree with what that couple was doing down in Mexico and the situation they got put in, why do people always feel the need to say you are right or you are wrong in the way another family chooses to live? Some people may live in their little bubble in the US, what’s wrong with that? Some people may want to run around and live their lives on a boat, van, car, etc. Just because it is not your first choice, doesn’t make it the incorrect choice.
Bums, keep on cruising … love reading your entries :).
Love your camper. There is a guy selling one on facebook in Houston Tx for $4000. My kids are both going away to college next year and I was seriously thinking about buying this one and exploring America from sea to shining sea. How long in months and how much total did it cost to renovate your Dodge Travsco??
Hi, If it is in pretty good shape – they are a great way to travel. Ours was all original when we purchased it for $9,000. It took us about 3 months to get her ready to hit the road. And here is a breakdown of what it cost. Good luck and let us know if you get her! https://www.bumfuzzle.com/travco-costs/